Russia bombards Ukraine power grid, triggers blackouts
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The news: Russia launched its largest missile and drone attack on Ukraine in nearly three months, deploying 120 missiles and 90 drones on Sunday, according to media reports citing government officials.
The numbers: The strikes targeted energy infrastructure and killed at least seven people, including in in Mykolaiv, Odesa, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk, Reuters reported.
The Ukrainian Air Force intercepted 144 of the 210 aerial targets, the Associated Press reported citing Ukraine’s air defence force.
The context: Ukrainian officials suggested the attack appeared to be a forceful response from Russian President Vladimir Putin to efforts by Kyiv’s allies to pursue a peace deal following the election victory of US President-elect Donald Trump earlier this month.
The explosions caused severe damage to power systems, triggering power outages in multiple regions, including Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv, prompting residents to take shelter in metro stations and raising concerns over winter energy supply disruptions.
What they said: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strikes and called for additional air defence systems from Western allies. The Russian Ministry of Defense said it targeted energy facilities linked to Ukraine’s military.
Moldova accused Russia of violating Moldovan airspace during the attack, while NATO member Poland said it had mobilised fighter jets to patrol its airspace.
The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said several electrical substations servicing Ukraine’s nuclear plants had suffered damage, adding only two of Ukraine’s nine operational nuclear reactors continue to generate power at full capacity.
The sources: The Wall Street Journal , BBC , Reuters , CNN
